George R. “Butch” Edwards, 62, of  Manchester, loving son of Ercel (Crawford) Edwards of Manchester and the late James H. Edwards, died unexpectedly Monday, March 8, 2004.

Born in Manchester February 7, 1942, he was a lifelong resident, attending local schools and graduat­ing from Manchester High School in 1960. Butch was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Air Force, and prior to retiring last week, he had been employed by the American Eagle Federal

Credit Union in East Hartford for thirty-five years. His hobbies included gardening and travel.

Besides his mother, he is sur­vived by a sister, Carol-Anne Soucy of Schuylerville, N.Y.; and a brother, Bruce J. Edwards and his wife, Darlene, of Newnan, Ga.; his close and dear friends, Albert Van-der-Pluymn of Holland and George Finch of Bloomfield; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grand­nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He also leaves his cat, Silverbell, and was predeceased by his cat, Blackjack.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 1 p.m., at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 523 Hartford Turnpike (Rte. 30), Vernon.

Friends may call at the Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main Street, Manchester, Friday, March 12, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.